
             ____   ___   ___ _  __  _
            |  _ \ / _ \ / __| |/ / | |   _ _ __  _   _ _  _
            | . _/| | | | |  | '_/  | |  |_| '_ \| | | | \/ |
            | |\ \| |_| | |__| . \  | |__| | | | | `_' |>  <
            |_| \_\ ___/ \___|_|\_\ |____|_|_| |_|\___/|_/\_|
         [============> http://www.rocklinux.org/ <============]

 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
 *                                                                         *
 *   ROCK Linux is Copyright (C) 1998 - 2000  Clifford Wolf                *
 *   contains slightly updates in general and for dRock - by Ren Rebe     *
 *                                                                         *
 *   Read the file 'COPYING' for licensing details.                        *
 *                                                                         *
 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

INSTALL: How to install a precompiled ROCK Linux distribution.


To build a ROCK Linux distribution, see the file BUILD. 
Hopefully you have read the file README already. Developers who would like to 
contribute to this project should read and understand the file POLICY in
the developers directory.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

At this point you have either built a ROCK Linux distribution from
scratch, or you are about to install a precompiled one. If you get any
problems, refer to the FAQ.

1. Bringing up the target system.
How to boot the target system is described in the appendix for your
architecture. As soon as the kernel has booted and mounted the install floppy,
the system will ask you for the name of a terminal. Press <enter>. If it 
doesn't ask, never mind.


2. Configuring your disk(s)/filesystem(s).
Use the standard commands (fdisk, mkfs.xyz, mkswap, ...) to configure your 
disks, partitions and filesystems. Here is a short overview of these commands
(in case you don't have the man-pages handy):

2.1 fdisk / cfdisk device
fdisk is a menu driven program for creation and manipulation of partition
tables. Under ROCK Linux you must use devfs device names (e.g. the first
IDE disk is /dev/ide/host0/bus0/target0/lun0/disc - instead of /dev/hda).

2.2 mkfs.xyz to create a filesystem on a device (usually a disk partition).

mkreiserfs device
mkreiserfs creates ReiserFS (the currently prefered filesystem) on a device.
It is normally faster than an ext2/3 fs and has better tested journalling
support.

mkfs.ext2 [ -i bytes-per-inode ] device [ blocks-count ] [-j]
mkfs.ext2 is used to create a Linux second extended file system on a device.
When the -j option is used the tool will create an ext3 filessystem - an
extended ext2 that included journaling. An ext3 (like ReiserFS) does normally
need no filesystem checks :-)!

2.3 mkswap device [size]
mkswap sets up a Linux swap area on a device or in a file.

2.4 swapon/swapoff device
enable/disable devices and files for paging and swapping.

2.5 Mounting the filesystem structure
Mount the new filesystem(s) at /trg and the source (i.e. the installation
packages) at /src. If you need the network to mount the  source disk (NFS),
use the command "confnet" to set up the network interfaces. Execute "confnet"
without parameters for instructions. A suggestion for a partition layout can
be found in the FAQ.


3. Installing the packages.
Type Install. This starts the "ROCK Linux Install Shell" - an interactive
program which lets you select packages and install them. The command 'help'
shows you a list of all commands. To install everything just type this:

In dRock this is replaced by a text-menu driven program - which should be
straightforward to use. The original shell can still be reached by selecting
the "shell" option. The shell is used like this:

    ROCK Install Shell> select */*
    ROCK Install Shell> install


4. Basic configuration of your system.
Refer to the FAQ for details on each item. 

4.1. When the unpacking of files is done, you will be asked for permission to
perform some semi-automatic configuration of your system. Allow this, and
answer the questions.

4.2. Before you boot the new installation, it is recommended that you log in
and check the minimum of configuration. This is done by chroot'ing to your
new root-partition and executing the necessary commands.

    rock-install:/# cd /trg
    rock-install:/trg# chroot . /bin/bash --login

4.3. You might like to verify that GRUB or LILO got installed properly.
Or in the case you skiped the steps during the setup - configure another
boot-loader.

4.4. Configure additional filesystems and swapspace by editing
/etc/fstab

4.5. Check the text-mode keyboardmapping by verifying this link
/etc/default.keymap ->/usr/share/kbd/keymaps/<arch>/<layout>/<keymap>.gz

4.6. Check the local timezone by verifying this link
/etc/localtime ->/usr/share/zoneinfo/<timezone>

4.7. (Optional) Compile a new kernel
You _must_ enable the devfs filesystem for ROCK Linux.

4.8. <outdated>

4.9. (Optional) Configure 
/etc/modules.conf
if you configured any part of the kernel as a module.

4.10. (Optional) Configure X, by executing
By uncommenting or writing the missing pieces in /etc/X11/XF86Config. You
can also try to run XFree86 -configure and follow the instructions (has
not worked for me ...).

4.11. (Optional) Daemons
If you want to change which daemons are started at boottime, try the command
runlvedit

It is not recommended to enable xdm until you have
configured X and verified that X works properly.



5.0 Finish the Setup
You should now be able to boot your system to the Maintenance Console or a 
virtual console.  

    (none):~# exit
    rock-install:/trg# cd ..
    rock-install:/# reboot

If you did everything correctly, the system should reboot and give you
(after a while) a login screen.


APPENDIX A: Notes for installing on ix86 PC systems

A.1. Booting the install system from CD
You can boot the install system directly from the CD-ROM. If you boot from
the CD it's not possible to install over the network. The most important
loadable modules (e.g. SCSI drivers) are available.
./scripts/make-misc mkiso is the command to build the ISO images.

A.2. Booting the install system from floppy disks
In the directory rock-base-<version>/<arch>-floppies you can find the disk
images. You can copy the images to diskettes using the dos program rawrite
or the dd program under unix. The standard kernel comes with the most
necassary drivers - all Linux SCSI and Network drivers are available as
loadable modules on the 'modules-disk'.
Boot from the boot-disk and insert the root-disk as soon as the kernel asks
you for it. You only need the modules disk if you want to use some drivers
which are not part of the standard kernel which is on the boot disk.

A.3. Making a custom boot floppy disk
If you would like to boot the ROCK Linux install system with a kernel other
than the standard kernel you can create the boot disk with the script
mk-bootdisk.sh in the disk-image directory. When building your own kernel
remember to enable the devfs driver.

A.4. Loading modules
If you want to load some modules when booting from the CD just use the
'insmod' command. If you are using floppy disks you first need to copy
the modules on the ramdisk. This can be done with the command 'modules
<type>' where <type> is one of 'block', 'net', 'scsi' or 'pcmcia'.


APPENDIX B: Notes for installing on Alpha PC systems

B.1 MILO - The Linux bootloader for alphas

First of all you should read the milo documentation and download the
pre-built standard milo image for your system. You can get this stuff
from the Alpha-Linux Homepage (www.alphalinux.org) or from the homepage
of your hardware manufacturer / reseller.

B.2 Booting the install system

First you need to create a root disk using the image located in the
rock-base-<version>/<arch>-floppies directory. Next you need to copy
your compressed kernel image and the milo files on an msdos formated
floppy disk. Boot the kernel using a line like this on the milo prompt:

MILO> boot fd0:vmlinux.gz root=/dev/fd devfs=nocompat load_ramdisk=1 \
           prompt_ramdisk=1 ramdisk_size=4096

As soon as the kernel asks you for it, insert the root disk.


APPENDIX C: Notes for installing on iMac systems
[FIXME!]


APPENDIX C: Notes for installing on PPC systems
[FIXME!]


APPENDIX C: Notes for installing on Sparc systems
[FIXME!]




 Have fun with ROCK Linux, and please read the FAQ before mailing me! :-),

 - Clifford Wolf
